Amphibious & Support Ships
France contracts Airbus-led group for work on fleet-wide data network
The French defense procurement agency DGA (Direction générale de l’armement) has awarded an Airbus-led group a contract for work on the French Navy’s fleet wide data network. In cooperation with Naval Group and Rohde & Schwarz, Airbus will maintain and adapt the existing IP network for the French na
HNoMS Helge Ingstad salvage a success as frigate arrives at Haakonsvern naval base
The Royal Norwegian Navy’s sunken frigate HNoMS Helge Ingstad arrived at the main navy base aboard submersible barge “Boa barge 33” on Sunday, marking the end of a successful salvage operation. The frigate was transported to the Haakonsvern navy base from the sea floor of Hjeltefjorden fjord where s
USS Donald Cook exits Blacks Sea, closely followed by Russian frigate
US Navy’s Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer USS Donald Cook (DDG 75) transited the Bosphorous Strait on March 1, wrapping up ten days of Black Sea operations. While in the Black Sea, the ship conducted operations at sea with the Turkish Navy and completed a port visit to Odesa, Ukraine in
Fincantieri begins construction of first Qatari Navy OPV
Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri officially started construction of the first of two Qatari Navy offshore patrol vessels in a ceremony at its Muggiano shipyard on February 27. The two OPVs will be built as part of a larger, 4 billion euro, contract which will see Finantieri deliver a total of seven s
Helicopter carrier, frigate kick off French Navy’s annual Asia-Pacific mission
Mistral-class helicopter carrier BPC Tonnerre and frigate FS La Fayette kicked off the French Navy’s annual Jeanne d’Arc mission which sees a task group spend five months on operations around the world. During this year’s edition, Tonnerre and La Fayette will first sail to the Eastern Mediterranean,
Rolls-Royce gets Royal Navy submarine propulsion upkeep contract
The UK defense ministry has awarded Rolls-Royce Submarines Limited a £235 million (US$309 m) contract to support nuclear propulsion systems on board the current fleet of Trafalgar, Vanguard and Astute class submarines until 2022. The deal will see the company provide the support, advice and material
First proposal for the Royal Navy’s new Littoral Strike Ships unveiled
British risk advisory company Prevail Partners has unveiled its proposal for the Royal Navy’s two new littoral strike ships which were announced by the UK defense secretary earlier this month. Prevail say their multi role vessel (MRV) was designed as a mobile logistic and helicopter base, enabling n
Finland buying Raytheon’s ESSM for Squadron 2020 corvettes
The Finnish defense ministry on February 21 announced it is buying Raytheon’s Evolved SeaSparrow Missile (ESSM) systems for its Pohjanmaa-class corvettes of the Squadron 2020 project. The surface-to-air missile system (ITO20) will be installed on all four ships in the class. The exact number of miss
Royal Navy tanker RFA Tidesurge enters service
The Royal Navy’s third Tide-class tanker RFA Tidesurge entered service in a ceremony on February 20. The 39,000-tonne fleet replenishment tanker is the latest of four new Royal Fleet Auxiliary ships. “Royal Fleet Auxiliary Tidesurge is the third of our four new fleet replenishment tankers,” said Com
Danish frigate gets underway for deployment with French aircraft carrier
Royal Danish Navy frigate HDMS Niels Juel got underway from Naval Base Korsør en route to the Mediterranean Sea port of Toulon where it will join French aircraft carrier FS Charles de Gaulle for almost two months of training and operations. Denmark’s defense ministry expressed its interest in sendin
Royal Navy frigate joins US Navy oiler for South China Sea drills
US Navy fleet replenishment oiler USNS Guadalupe (T-AO 200) and Royal Navy frigate HMS Montrose (F236) met up in the South China Sea on February 18 for a series of maritime security and logistics training. The drills involved Royal Marine commandos, Royal Navy sailors and Guadalupe crew members. Dur
Abu Dhabi Ship Building, Italy’s Leonardo team up for naval collaboration
Abu Dhabi Ship Building has signed a memorandum of understanding with Italy’s Leonardo to step up cooperation in the naval sector at the IDEX International Defence Exhibition in Abu Dhabi. The new MoU will see the two sides collaborate to create a combat management system (CMS) integration laborator
US destroyer, NATO ships enter Black Sea after Dardanelles Strait transit
US Navy’s Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Donald Cook and ships from NATO’s Standing Mine Countermeasures Group 2 (SNMCMG2) entered the Black Sea on February 19. Donald Cook entered the Black Sea after last visiting the region in January 2019, when it visited Batumi, Georgia and con
Dynamic Guard concludes off Norway
NATO-led exercise Dynamic Guard concluded off the coast on February 15. Ships from Standing NATO Maritime Group One (SNMG 1), commanded by U.S. Rear Adm. Edward Cashman, were joined by other ally units in the region for ten days of evolutions. The exercise is executed concurrently with Norwegian led